Leave flowers or write messages of hope

People are invited to drop flowers in the Avon River and write messages of hope on trees today to mark the earthquake anniversary.

Healthy Christchurch River of Flowers project runs from 8am to 8pm, with 15 community-hosted sites along the banks of the Avon. People can drop flowers into the river and write messages of hope on trees.

"Each site provides an important opportunity for communities to be together, to remember, and to look to the future," said Healthy Christchurch chairwoman Evon Currie.

Avondale residents threw flowers into the river to mark the anniversary of the September 4 quake.

Mental Health Foundation chief executive Judi Clements said projects like the River of Flowers were important ways for communities to demonstrate solidarity.

"[It] encourages us all to take notice and be in the moment, which is one of the five winning ways to wellbeing that we've been promoting over the past six months.

Advertisement

"Other ways include connecting with others, learning, being active and giving, and there are elements of all these in this project."

The Council of Social Services will host a site in Latimer Square so people can write notes for the tree of hope and release balloons after two minutes' silence at 12.51pm.